Pupils at Queen’s College, London are celebrating their GCSE results today, with 52% of all grades awarded at 9-8 and 71% at 9-7. Pupils gathered over breakfast with friends and teachers at the Harley Street school this morning to mark their achievements and look ahead to the next chapter of their education.
There was particular cause for celebration in English, where Queen’s pupils achieved outstanding results. In English Literature, 45% of all grades were at the very highest grade 9, with 87% awarded grades 9–7.
The results reflect a longstanding strength at Queen’s: encouraging young women not simply to absorb ideas, but to interrogate them, develop opinions of their own and have the confidence to express them. Queen’s girls are encouraged to think independently and find their own voice.
For Izzy, the support she received at Queen’s helped turn an initially daunting prospect into an experience that built her confidence.
“I thought that doing GCSEs was going to be absolutely terrifying, but with the amazing support at Queen’s, I felt like so much of that pressure was lifted.
“The Pastoral Care and Thrive department helped me feel so comfortable and supported. I went into the exam period feeling really anxious, but my confidence grew so much throughout it. I never would have imagined myself getting such high results, and I’m so grateful for all the support I received along the way.”
Kitty was similarly delighted with her results and highlighted the additional academic support available as exams approached.
“I’m really thrilled with how GCSEs went, and the actual experience and process of it all was really enjoyable. There was so much support from teachers along the way, especially as we got closer to exam season.
“The clinics were really useful, and there was a lot more exam practice, which helped desensitise me to the exams a bit. Throughout study leave, I also felt like I could always go to my teachers and ask questions.”
Kitty is now looking forward to continuing at Queen’s for Sixth Form, where Politics will be among her A-level subjects.
“A-levels are going to be so exciting. I can’t wait to do more of the subjects that I love, and I feel like the smaller classes are going to make them even more engaging.
“I’m also looking forward to the extra freedom you get in Sixth Form. I feel like you get a bit more control over your own education, which is really exciting for me.”
One Queen’s parent said the results were also testament to the contribution of staff and the wider school community:
“Although this is her star moment, I know that none of it would have been achievable without the incredible hard work and daily support from her teachers.
“What I see here is an incredible sense of family and community. Across the school there is a strong sense of pride and support, and I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity my daughter has had to come to Queen’s and be part of this wonderful community.”
Richard Tillett, Principal of Queen’s College, London, said:
“Today is a moment to celebrate everything this year group have achieved, and we are tremendously excited to see what they do next. It is particularly rewarding to hear our pupils speak about the confidence they have gained and the support they have received from their teachers.
“Behind every grade is an individual story: a pupil discovering what fascinates her, overcoming challenges, growing in confidence and beginning to decide what path she wants to pursue academically.
“I am enormously proud of this year group and of the way they have approached their studies. Their exceptional performance in English is especially pleasing at a school which has always encouraged young women to think for themselves and never be afraid to have an opinion.”
For many of the year group, today also marks the transition to Queen’s Senior College (Sixth Form). Geography, Psychology and Philosophy, Theology and Ethics (PTE) are the three most popular A-level choices among the cohort, while the broad range of A-level subjects available reflects the breadth of interests pupils will pursue as they move into the next stage of their education.
Queen’s looks forward to welcoming back returning pupils to Sixth Form, alongside many new joiners, when the new academic year begins in September.